It doesn’t matter whether you're moving across town or across the country, moving can be a huge expense for your bank account and for the environment. But if you follow these simple steps, you might actually be able to save money and energy during your move.

1.Plan your meals ahead of time

Before you start cleaning out your refrigerator or packing up your pots and pans, make a meal plan for your remaining days in your home. This will help you use all the food you've already purchased and reduce waste. It can also help you create a packing plan for your dishes. Plus, if you can continue to eat at home, you'll save money by avoiding restaurants.

2.Have a garage sale

If you're moving, you likely have a few things that don't need to make the trip with you. As a general rule, something you haven't used, worn or enjoyed in the last year is probably something you can do without. Consider having a garage sale to get rid of them as opposed to throwing old items away. Not only can you make a few bucks, but you can avoid sending waste to the landfill and have fewer things to move.

3.Know what size moving truck you need

Renting a truck that's larger than you actually need is just wasteful. Not only will it cost you more to rent, it will use more fuel, sending more emissions into the atmosphere and sucking more money out of your wallet. Instead, examine the items in your home and rent a truck that's the appropriate size to fit your furniture. A one-bedroom apartment can usually fit in a 10-foot truck, a two-bedroom in a 14-foot truck and a three-bedroom home in a 20-foot truck.

4.Recycle boxes

Although you can buy boxes at most truck rental locations, purchasing new boxes isn't economical. You can easily pick up boxes for free by visiting your favorite stores. If there aren't boxes readily available, ask an associate when they typically stock the shelves, as you can likely grab a couple boxes as they've been emptied. By following this tip you benefit by getting free boxes. The store benefits by reducing its waste. And the environment benefits from reduced waste too. It's a win-win-win situation.

5.Get thrifty with packing materials

Instead of blowing a small fortune on bubble wrap, use items around your house to cushion your breakables. Towels, bed linens and clothing can easily be used as cushioning. You can also use old newspapers to wrap your items—but be mindful of what you wrap. For example, using newspaper to wrap your dishes will only cause smudges that you'll have to clean later.